A DRINK driver who crashed into another car while trying to do a U-turn on the M6 has been jailed.

Moses Khombe thought he was travelling southbound from Stoke-on-Trent towards his home in Bedfordshire when he realised he had driven over 50 miles in the wrong direction – ending up near Charnock Richard.

But instead of waiting to come off at the next exit, Khombe attempted to do a U-turn across three lanes of traffic, causing a serious accident which left several people with injuries.

The 41-year-old appeared at Preston Crown Court yesterday where he was jailed for two years and eight months.

He was also handed a driving ban of four years and five months and was told he must take an extended retest. 

The court heard how Khombe, of Lake View, Dunstable, had been drinking with a friend in Stoke-on-Trent on March 15 before the incident took place.

He narrowly missed several vehicles but collided in lane three with a Vauxhall Grandland which was travelling at around 70mph.

All four people in the Vauxhall suffered injuries, with three of them serious. One of the passengers spent almost two months in hospital undergoing three operations while the other two suffered broken bones and bruising.

Khombe was uninjured.

When Khombe’s blood was tested for alcohol following the collision it was found to contain 203mgs of alcohol per 100mls of blood. The legal limit is 80mgs of alcohol.

In court he pleaded guilty to three counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving, dangerous driving and drink-driving. 

PC Jez Robbins, of Lancashire Police’s TacOps team, said: “Khombe decided to get behind the wheel knowing he would have been well over the drink-drive limit. After going the wrong way he pulled onto the hard shoulder before making the decision to do a U-turn across three lanes of traffic. He caused a crash which seriously injured three people, caused injuries to a fourth person and put countless others in other vehicles at risk. 

“Khombe’s actions were reckless, selfish and stupid and it is no exaggeration to say someone could have been killed that night. As it is, the four people in the Vauxhall have been left with both physical and mental injuries which will potentially stay with them for years to come.

“I hope this sentencing sends a message to all motorists that drink-driving is never worth it. The legal limit is there for a reason and however well you believe you can drive under the influence, you are putting yourself and others in danger of serious harm. 

“I also hope this sentence gives some closure to the victims and enables them to move forward with their lives.”